Agenda: Class 1011

ET 690 Educational Technology Seminar

This, then, is the double truth: we are free to express our
own preferences, tendencies, and choices when using PowerPoint,
which is itself an expression of these choices; and as a highly
effective expression of choices already made, PowerPoint can influence
us 'from outside,' nudging us further in certain unhealthy
directions. --Stephen L. Talbott, "Where Does the User End
and PowerPoint Begin"

Yesterday my eleven-year old son and I were hiking in
a remote wood. He was leading. He spotted [a] four-foot rattlesnake
in the trail about six feet in front of us. We watched it for
quite some time before going around it. When we were on the way
home, he commented that this was the best day of his life. He
was justifiably proud of the fact that he had been paying attention
and had thus averted an accident, and that he had been able to
observe this powerful, beautiful, and sinister snake. Barry
Angell, the father, then asked exactly the right question: "I
wonder how many armchair nature-watchers have seen these dangerous
snakes on the tube and said 'this is the best day of my life."
--Stephen L. Talbott, "Meetings With a Snake"

Time will be kept strictly according to the above schedule
(no presidential-debate-style overruns will be tolerated)

Each team member must speak approximately equally (for 2-member
teams, consider having each member be responsible for one opening
or closing statement and one rebuttal)

The "panel" and questioners will consist of all
class members not involved with the debate

I will keep time with my stopwatch

The "panel" will vote on the winner

Each panel member must vote (no abstentions allowed)

Ties will be broken by the professor

The debate winners will automatically receive a grade of
A for the debate

Exception 1: an individual team member may receive a lower
grade if speaking time is not roughly divided; i.e., don't expect
an A if you let your teammate(s) do all the talking

Exception 2: debate teams' grades may be lowered if they
fail to follow these guidelines

The debate losers will not be guaranteed any particular grade,
but the grade of A is certainly possible

Debate teams will turn in a printed copy of their prepared
opening statements and at least two academic references (no newspaper
articles or unpublished web pages) of articles supporting their
position. Articles should be used as part of the debate

Forming Debate Teams

2 or 3 member teams

3 member teams only if numbers of particpants require

We will decide on groups of 4 (or 6) who are interested in
a similar subset of papers

Each group of 4 (or 6) will meet separately to decide on
a specific topic and teams